BOOKISH FRIDAY: “THE SUNSHINE SISTERS”

Welcome to another Bookish Friday, in which I  share excerpts from books…and connect with other bloggers, who do the same.

Let’s begin the celebration by sharing Book Beginnings, hosted by Rose City Reader; and let’s showcase The Friday 56 with Freda’s Voice.

To join in, just grab a book and share the opening lines…along with any thoughts you wish to give us; then turn to page 56 and excerpt anything on the page.

Then give us the title of the book, so others can add it to their lists!

What a great way to spend a Friday!

Today’s feature is one of my current reads:  The Sunshine Sisters,  by Jane Green, “A warm, satisfying tale about the love that binds even the most dysfunctional of families.”—People

 

Beginning:  (Prologue)

All those years when Ronni thought she was sick, all those years convinced that every mole was melanoma, every cough was lung cancer, every case of heartburn was an oncoming heart attack, after all those years, when the gods finally stopped taking care of her she wasn’t scared.

***

56:  This is what it feels like to be an adult, thinks Lizzy, proud of herself for being such a good host.  She made everyone have some pesto with their burgers, and they all declared it awesome. 

They sit around on the outdoor lounge furniture, drinking the beers Craig brought, watching the sun set over the water, reflecting a golden glow over everyone there.

***

Synopsis:  Ronni Sunshine left London for Hollywood to become a beautiful, charismatic star of the silver screen. But at home, she was a narcissistic, disinterested mother who alienated her three daughters.

As soon as possible, tomboy Nell fled her mother’s overbearing presence to work on a farm and find her own way in the world as a single mother. The target of her mother’s criticism, Meredith never felt good enough, thin enough, pretty enough. Her life took her to London—and into the arms of a man whom she may not even love. And Lizzy, the youngest, more like Ronni than any of them, seemed to have it easy, using her drive and ambition to build a culinary career to rival her mother’s fame, while her marriage crumbled around her.

But now the Sunshine sisters are together again, called home by Ronni, who has learned that she has a serious disease and needs her daughters to fulfill her final wishes. And though Nell, Meredith, and Lizzy have never been close, their mother’s illness draws them together to confront the old jealousies and secret fears that have threatened to tear these sisters apart. As they face the loss of their mother, they will discover if blood might be thicker than water after all…

***

I must have a new Jane Green novel for each summer, even though I still have to immerse myself in dark thrillers, too.

What do you think?  Do the excerpts and the blurb pull you in?

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49 thoughts on “BOOKISH FRIDAY: “THE SUNSHINE SISTERS”

  1. Hi Lorraine,

    I also have to admit that I have never read any Jane Green books for myself, athough they are always good, quick sellers, when they are donated into the charity shop where I volunteer, so perhaps I should!

    These four women all appear to be singularly unhappy with the lives they have carved for themselves and whilst for many families, death can often drive a wedge between members, it sounds as though the opposite may be true for Ronni and her daughters.

    I especially found the opening lines you shared to be the most moving and I hope that you enjoy the book 🙂

    Yvonne

    Liked by 1 person

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